What the bollocks?

[thelibraniniquity]

Students will be "blackmailed" into holding identity cards in order to apply for student loans...

These cards aren't compulsory for any other section of the British population. As far as I'm aware, the proposals for their introduction haven't even been pushed through Parliament yet.

Although, thinking of the so-called "British population" and the existing stance on students, can we take this to mean that the government's proposals will only affect students in England and Wales (see: top up fees etc.), leaving the Scottish and Northern Irish somehow exempt. I hope I am jumping the gun in this assumption, but somehow this just does not bode well at all.

We'll see, though. We will definitely see.

Comments

[teyla]

Hee. I once had a long discussion with housepiglet about this identity card yes/no thing. I was surprised that in the UK, people apparently don't have to carry an ID at all times (that's what this is about isn't it? If not, ignore me ;).). Over here, everybody from the age of 16 upwards has to carry one. I mean, they don't lock you up if you've left it at home, but they can make you pay srs monies when you forget to renew it. I think that's not such a bad idea in general, but then, I've never known anything else, so... *shrug*.

[thelibraniniquity]

Yeah, I vaguely remember discussing it during A-level German, and one of the major arguments against identity cards in Britain that I've heard is that in order to get one, you have to conclusively prove who you are... rendering the card somewhat moot.

It's also the biometric aspect as well; a database of information on innocent people/people who have never had to be processed by any law-enforcement organisation is not something that sits well with the British people I have come across, and quite frankly our Government's record with the safekeeping of confidential information on its citizens is... well, it's nothing short of appalling.

[teyla]

you have to conclusively prove who you are... rendering the card somewhat moot
Uh, not really. I mean, you prove who you are, you get the card, and then they made sure that you can never fly under the RADAR while you've got a handy little card saying you exist which you can use to prove your identity to anyone conclusively. It's not such a bad system, really, if you ask me.

I've no idea about the German government's reputation as far as safekeeping the info is concerned. Tbh, I don't care much. I never have. But I really think that's me, since so many people seem to feel so strongly about it.

[wihluta.livejournal.com]

Like t_eyla said, in Germany we carry ID cards all the time. I don't mind having an ID card, but I really don't like the fact that nowadays they want a fingerprint on it too. Makes me feel like a criminal, also, I don't want to be in their files. And that's what will happen as soon as I need a new card (which is next week). I find it somewhat insulting, to be honest.

So, atm, I'm really torn on that subject. :-/

[thelibraniniquity]

atm, I'm really torn on that subject.
Yeah. I have no objections to the idea of an ID card itself; I have a multipurpose ID card for university, for example, on which the only data stored is my photocopying/printing balance for the library, other library information, and my basic uni course information which are accessed through my student number.

The idea of carrying a card that stores detailed biometric information on the other hand, which is what the Labour government is trying to foist on us - and apparently through any means necessary - is not something I'm fine with.

Normal ID card, yes. Why not? Anything else... hm, no thanks.

[wihluta.livejournal.com]

yeah, I feel the same about it.

IMHO there are way to many cards in Germany as it is: ID card, passport, health-insurance card, student-ID... It's really annoying sometimes.